Last



umrso S'iA'i B e lfEN'l OFFICE.

WALTER A. KRENTLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIG'NOR 'IO KRENTLER ARNOLD HINGE LAST COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN- LAST.

memes.

Specification of Letters Patent IPa-tented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed August 29, 1919. Serial No. 320,590.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VALTER A. Knnnrnnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Lasts, of which the following description, in connection with the accomanying drawings, is a specification, like otters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention relates to two-part lasts and more particularly to the construction of the hinged members and means to lock the same.

In my prior and copending application, Serial Number 292,140, filed April 23, 1919, I have disclosed and claimed broadly therein, the provision of the hinged last, wherein a locking device or member is provided, operated by gravity, and by a slight manipulation of. the last parts, both for locking and unlocking the last. In my said prior case, the specific embodiment of the invention comprises locking means which were operative directly upon the hinge members of the last. A much simpler form is shown in the present invention and a construction wherein the gravity controlled locking device is secured directly to the wood of a predetermined one of the last parts and locks the hinged member. In the present construction great strength is secured and also a simplicity of parts.

In said prior case, I have elected to claim broadly the gravity locking feature, together with claims on the form there shown and in the present case, I have elected to claim broadly the provision of one of the locking devices having a rigid bearing on the wood of the last in appropriate position for cooperation with the locking of the hinge.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a side view of a last embodying my present invention with a portion of the wood broken away and showing the same in locked position;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding view of Fig. 1 showing the last unlocked; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are modifications showing the last locked and unlocked respectively.

Referring to the last as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the forepart 1 and heel part 2 may be of any suitable size, style, form or shape, these parts being formed of wood divided along the line of cut, comprising the faces 9, 4, and 5 on the forepart, the faces at and 0 corresponding to the faces 6 and 7 of the heel part with the beveled face 8 which is a usual construction. This line of cut is substantially that as shown in my prior Patent, No. 902,302, and may be variously formed 1n order to allow the heel part and forepart a relative movement for shortening or breaking the last when the two parts are united by a single link. Sawed recesses 10 1n the forepart and 12 in the heel part are formed of suitable width to receive the link 15, which is a metal link or hinge and is formed with recesses adapted to receive the pins 16 through the heel part and 17 through the forepart substantially as shown. The link15 swings on these two pins during the breaking and straightening of the last, the saw cuts 10 and 12 being of suitable length to permit this swing, while preferably being of the relatively snug or sliding fit on the link 15 to take up lateral strains and hold the last parts in alinement.

In order to lock the last in the form shown in Figs. 1 and .2, I provide the link 15 with a short projection 20 extending beyond the pin 17 in the forepart. In the recess 10 and pivoted at 21 is a swinging link 22 having therein a recess 23 ada ted to engage and cooperate with the portion 20 of the link 15 to hold the same locked when the last is in extended position as shown in Fig. 1. The operation of this locking arrangement will be readily understood from the drawings and is easily and quickly accomplished by the manipulation of the last and the weight of the link 22 which is adapted to swing freely on its pivot 21, while housed within the saw cut 10 in the forepart. When the last is straightened, as shown in Fig. 1, it is held heel downwardly and the link 22 will drop downwardly onto the portion 20 and thus hold the link so locked and the last rigid. A slight manipulation or shakingof the last will accomplish this locking effect. As lasts when in use in a shoe, during the processes of manufacture, are almost always held in a position other than vertically, z. c. with either the heel down and toe uppermost or toe backward and heel uppermost, there is no danger of the lock becoming unlocked. In unlocking the last it is simply positioned in a reverse vertical line to that when looking the last and a slight manipulation will cause the link 22 to release its locking engagement on the link 15, droppingback into the recess 10 and permitting the last to be broken.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 3 and a, a modified arrangement of last is illustrated, wherein the link 30, also pivoted, to pins 16 and 17, has the portion 31 extending beyond the pin 17 pivoted at 32 to the swinging arm 33, the latter having a recess 3d adapted to engage with and lock on the pin 21. In this form the swinging locking member is pivoted to the link and actually looks on the pin 21, thus giving a rigid looking engagement on the wood of the torepart. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the looking arm i itself pivoted to the wood and engages the link to lock the same. In both forms the last is locked and unlocked by similar vertical positions and slightmanipulations.

The last as herein shown provides a simple and inexpensive type of gravity controlled locking device eliminating all springs or the like, enabling a lock to have a rigid bearing directly upon the wood of one of the last parts,-here shown as the forepart, although this could be equally well applied to the heel part,-and gives a strong rigid construction. A divided last is thus provided which can be made on any desirable line of cut, preferably to permit the use of a single uniting link and with means to lock the link directly to the wood of one part. As this feature of locking the last by a gravity controlled member between the hinged element or elements and the solid wood portions of the last or to the pin rigidly held in the wooden last, is of importance and a distinct novelty in this art I wish to claim the same broadly.

My present invention is further described and defined in the form of claims'as follows:

1. A divided last, having its forepart and heel part severed by a line of cut and said parts being joined by a link pivoted to each last part one portion of said link extending outside beyond a pivot and locking means cooperating with said extended portion and a fixed part of the adjacent last portion, the operation of said locking means being controlled by gravity.

2. A divided last, having its torepart and heel part severed by a line of cut and said parts being joined by a link pivoted to each last part, one portion of said link extending outside beyond a. pivot in one last part, a rigid pin in the same last part and a movable locking member pivoted to said pin and adapted to engage the projecting portion-of said link to lock the last and to be disengaged for unlocking the last, said member ieing operable by its weight and the posi tion of the last.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER A. KRENTLER.

Witnesses A. H. AYLns, AUeUs'rA L. Rinonn. 

